Archbishop Henry Moeller, for whom Moeller Knights of Columbus was named, was born in Cincinnati on December 11, 1849 and died in that city on January 5, 1925. He was the fourth Bishop and third Archbishop of the diocese. He was also the first native son to become Archbishop and the first of German decent in this German community to become Archbishop.

Moeller attended St. Xavier College in Cincinnati. Aware of his splendid talents and studious temperament, Archbishop Purcell sent him to the American College in Rome to pursue the study of the Sacred Sciences. After he was ordained to the priesthood in 1876 at St. John Lateran Basilica, Rome, he came home to St. Patrick Parish, Bellefontaine, Ohio.

After several successful assignments, he was made Chancellor of the Cincinnati Archdiocese in 1886. During the next decade he had to meet diocesan issues, such as no other chancellor in America ever had to face. The diocesan exchequer was bankrupted by failure; the chancery was constantly besieged by all sorts of creditors; and legal entanglements were arising on all sides. How well he succeeded in handling these problems is evidence by the fact that on April 6, 1900, he was chosen Bishop of Columbus and consecrated on August 25 of the same year. His experience in Cincinnati served him well for in three years he was able to put the Diocese of Columbus on a good financial basis.

On April 23, 1903, the Holy Father designated him coadjutor to Archbishop Elder with the right of succession. He assisted the Archbishop up to his death on October 31, 1904, when the full duties of Archbishop devolved on him. On February 15, 1905, he received the Pallium from the hands of Cardinal Gibbons in St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, Cincinnati.

Under Archbishop Moeller's administration, the Church of Cincinnati entered on a new period of growth and progress. Some of his outstanding achievements are: the creation of 28 parishes; the organization of the Bureau of Catholic Charities; the erection of "The Fenwick" and "The Fontbonne", residence; the building of St. Rita's School for the Deaf; the expansion and development of Good Samaritan Hospital, St. Elizabeth Hospital, and the Mercy Hospital in Hamilton, Ohio; the establishment of Saint Maria institute for welfare work among the Italians; the opening of Mt. Carmel Home in Cincinnati and the Loretto Guild in Dayton; the organization of a million dollar major seminary; and the reopening of St. Gregory Preparatory Seminary. He was in the midst of large plans for the development of Catholic education in the archdiocese when he died. He is buried in a mausoleum in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Price Hill.

An article in the Cincinnati Times-Star on January 7, 1925, stated that members of the Knights of Columbus who have attained the honor of fourth degree will act as a guard of honor during the funeral of Archbishop Moeller.

Archbishop Moeller was a great churchman and Council 3861 of the Knights of Columbus is proud to be named for a person who symbolized in his office the unity of the Church for the cause of God and country.